Fallout 4 Comes to Life at E3 2015

After four years in development, Bethesda released the Fallout 4 trailer and our first look at the game. Now at E3 2015, Todd Howard took to the stage to tell eager fans everywhere exactly what was coming for Fallout 4, including its release date of November 10, 2015.

So what can you expect from the latest edition of the game?

Ghouls in colonial wear.

Maybe.

Actually, it all starts on a beautiful Saturday afternoon before the Great War. You are enjoying time with your husband or wife, your new baby and your Mr. Handy, Codsworth when the unthinkable happens. You gather your significant other and baby, race to the fallout shelter – and that’s when it hits. An atomic detonation.

When you emerge from Vault 111, it is 200 years later. It wasn’t touched on in the live stream, but rumor has it that Vault 111 is a cryogenics vault and well, it would make sense if you go in the vault and come out the same age. You are the sole survivor from your vault in a world that is both unfamiliar and dangerous.

Making your character look like you is even easier than ever with sculpting presets. Even your baby is crafted by using presets you’ve chosen for yourself and your significant other – do with that what you will. Howard explained how more time and detail was put into player sculpts, allowing for further customization.

“Player freedom remains our absolute, number one goal.”

Fallout 4 is Bethesda’s largest, most ambitious world yet with physical based rendering and full volumetric lighting. Specs are specs though, and I know fans are waiting to know more about the advanced customization options, what the new Pip-Boy is like and even what the collectors edition of the game might include, so lets get to it.

You can now layer your armor: perfect for stopping those heavy rifle hits. VATS have returned and look even better than ever. Give commands to your new dog companion that everyone is calling Dogmeat. You can play games by installing different holotapes onto your Pip-Boy – that’s right, you don’t even have to actually play Fallout 4, just the little mini games contained within your Pip-Boy if that’s your thing. There will surely be achievements for high scores.

Speaking of the new Pip-Boy, it is more interactive than ever, but with a familiar look and feel to it. Have you always wanted one for yourself? Order the collectors edition and you will receive your very own that you can put your smartphone into and use an iOS or Android second screen app for an even more surreal experience. There were no details on how much the collectors edition would cost, but Howard, who admitted he usually doesn’t like collectors editions, said it’s “the best f***ing one I’ve seen”. Kudos to the person in the audience that screamed “shut up and take my money!” during the live stream because lets face it, a lot of us were thinking it.

Howard then delved into even more customization options within the Fallout 4 world. Don’t want to pay someone to have a room in a seedy motel or a shack in the middle of Fenway Park? No problem. You can build your own home, fill it with everything you’ve ever wanted, and, if you are a people person, you can start building a community. Set up perimeters, turrets, lighting, a bar and even send brahmin caravans between settlements to keep your new tenants happy. Raiders can and will attack however, so be prepared. Install lookouts, man them with guys like Boone who are a good shot or are armed to the teeth and defend your new community. Every item in this world is now a resource instead of useless trash.

Our most dynamic world ever — powered by the new Creation Engine #Fallout4 #BE3 pic.twitter.com/SWQSWu17Ci

— BethesdaGameStudios (@BethesdaStudios) June 15, 2015

The creators of Fallout 4 really want players to make it theirs; to customize to their hearts content.

“We want you to build and decorate and make yourself a place you live in.”

Oh, and that customization? Yeah that includes weapons too. Kill a man with a teddy bear or create an automatic plasma rifle so that you can rain destruction down on your enemies. There’s over 50 base weapons to choose from. Customize your armor the way you want it to look and feel; salvage parts to create your own power armor and make yourself look like a total badass. You have over 700 mods to work with so go nuts!

November 10 seems like quite a ways away, but the five months will go by a little faster with a little more Fallout action, don’t you think? Do yourself a favor and head to the app store and search Fallout Shelter in the meantime. You won’t be disappointed.

Are you excited for Fallout 4? What is your favorite part about the new game? Let us know in the comments below!